An abysmal first half in which we stood off Peterborough and admired - from a very respectful distance - their handiwork and passing game. Chen and Tyreece Campbell were particularly ineffective but the whole team was flat and passive, leaving Alfie May totally isolated up front. Not once did Edun or Campbell get to the byline.
We were much better in the second half with Kanu up top and, buoyed by Alfie’s goal, gave it a real go. In the final analysis, Peterborough’s superior quality was always likely to tell and so it came to pass, with their guy running through the practically vacant right side of our defence to slot home.
There were some pluses, including a better and spirited second half, a good debut from Bakinson (who seems to be a much-needed talker, as well as a physical presence), an impressive cameo from Coventry and decent turns from Ness and Kanu.
In the final analysis, though, Peterborough were worthy winners and our lack of penetration down the flanks was a portent of how we’re going to fare if, as appears likely, CBT moves to pastures new this month. This team also remains almost totally incapable of putting together a 90 plus minute performance.
Given that we’re only 2 points above next week’s opponents, Burton - who sit in 19th position - we should not delude ourselves into thinking that we’re not capable of being drawn into a relegation battle. I think we’ll ultimately be ok but our direction of travel is hardly encouraging and we have some very tough fixtures coming up (although every game is tough at the moment). It is very depressing to be even looking over our shoulder towards the bottom of the table but that’s where we are at present.
I hope I’m wrong, but I do wonder if a continued run of poor results will see Appleton out of a job by the beginning of March. The question for the owners, regardless of where we end up this season is pretty simple: is this the man to take us back to the Championship ?
Burton are at Derby on Monday evening, could possibly be above us by next Saturday, new manager bounce and all that.
Its clear the board are not going to sack MA yet, In my opinion he has the next 3 games to get a win, if he has not got a win in the next three games then the board do not have a choice but to sack him surely.
First half was completely unacceptable, how can he keep getting it so wrong.
Second half performance was too late.
We cant keep turning up for 20/30 mins a game and expect to get any kind of result.
Dislike his attitude, Charlton is to big for him. Give the job to someone who sees Charlton as the club it can become again, someone hungry (and not JJ or Bowyer)
Someone fresh, someone who deserves the chance to take this club forward through the success and recognition they have also built.
rant over
But we were beaten by a top, top side and there I was thinking I turned up to watch us v Peterborough not Manchester City. How silly of me. Funny how everyone we play is a top, top side according to him. I honestly don’t think I’ve disliked a Charlton manager as much as I do him and I include Pardew, Dowie and Fraeye in that assertion.
I reckon he's got two games. He'll be gone by Feb. Not a lot out there, so Pearce will come in until the end of the season and the work will begin to bring in a high quality league one appointment towards the end of the season
He had the team trialing a new system for 2 whole days before the match and after 45 mins abandoned it. As I've said many a time.....coaching badges are not worth a crap. Total waste of time.
He now thinks that playing 2 up front together improved us. No shit sherlock.
That the 2nd 45 performance would have beaten 90% of teams in our division. Problem is Mr Apple-pips a football match is over 90 mins and by the time the 2nd 45 begins we are usually losing. Try getting a team to play for 90 mins you tosser.
If I was a betting man I'd say he won't be here by the end of the season. Might not be here to see the Ides of March.
For all those moaning about the fact that we only let in goals 80 minutes onwards, you’ll be pleased to know I just looked up the time of Peterborough’s 2nd goal, and it was in the 75th minute, little steps, but onwards and upwards!
A game of two halves,the first one totally outplayed,second,probably considering the opposition,one of the best halves this season. Kanu made a big difference,with Alfie by his side they gave the boro defenders plenty to think about,and probably should have won the game.Bakinson ,very steady,Coventry looks a class apart,on this display,surely a championship player.Should the goals have been prevented,well as much as all goals could be stopped,yes.The first a decent move in our box,second,their no 10,did what CBT does to teams,continually running at them,and often finally getting the reward. Hope Dobbo stays,I can see a formidable midfield with him,Bakinson and Coventry.CBT would be missed,but if Kanu can develop as quickly as what he seems to be doing,maybe we have a ready made replacement,in the goals and assists.stakes. All in all,a bit disappointed to lose this,but the signs are there ,and improvement in results will be coming soon.
MA has no right to trial players in positions and/or formations on match days. That’s what weekly training sessions are for. He’s been here long enough and knows the players skills and attributes so why the hell is trying ‘this and that’ on crucial games. Is he not embarrassed that we’re into a dozen games without a win now.
Horrendous first half devoid of ideas and crazy pass across the back four combined with turgid sideways crab football before hoofing it up to harlem globetrotter sized Alfie May expecting him to leap like a salmon against big centre backs.
Appleton stood there like a garden gnome who'd lost his fishing rod.
Worst atmosphere I've known at the Valley for a long while and the silence spoke of apathy and resignation in that first half.
Second half a world of difference. We had arguably the best team in the league on the ropes and silenced their fanbase.
Credit must go to Appleton for firing a half time rocket up them. Perhaps he does his ranting behind closed doors and doesn't feel the need to appease fans and 'show passion' by screaming and arm waving pitchside.
All 3 new players looked good additions on relative early showing. A few more in of that calibre and I expect us to go on a run of wins.
The direct, attacking football warranted the roars of support and appreciation from the covered End and elsewhere.
Could have won it but didn't and they scored an inevitable winner as their overall class warranted but I didn't leave feeling doom and gloom as saw enough in that second half to warrant optimism for the rest of the season (relative to what we can realistically achieve in that time).
Had the evening and night to think about the game before posting. I've never seen such an inept 1st half, both the Campbells were very very poor. In effect we were playing with 9 men. MA must have seen it, but decided to do nothing until HT....why? 2nd half much better, Kanu I thought was excellent when he came on and gave Posh defenders something to think about! I like the look of Barkinson and Coventry has that Cullen look about him. Even Fiorini had an OK cameo. This won't go down well with many but I'd drop Dobbo, if he's still here, give the armband to May or Coventry, and play the 3 aforementioned new players in midfield and try to get CBT to sign. The one thing we deffo need is a 'hold up' striker with more experience than Kanu and use Daniel as a sub as defensive legs get tired! As for MA, I was calling for his head few weeks ago, now I'm thinking let's see what happens in the rest of the window, can he get HIS players playing and winning? If not, then on ya bike son! Who replaces him...not a clue, but I'm not a Pearson fan either to be honest! Let's hope at least 2 more players come in through the door early this week. Finally with Hector now out, Gillesphey, Jones and a.n. other must start, I'm still not convinced by Ness!
MA has no right to trial players in positions and/or formations on match days. That’s what weekly training sessions are for. He’s been here long enough and knows the players skills and attributes so why the hell is trying ‘this and that’ on crucial games. Is he not embarrassed that we’re into a dozen games without a win now.
You couldn't be more wrong.
He absolutely has the right to as head coach to trial new formations and he'd be criticised if he didn't try a new approach after the run we've been on.
Don't you think they practiced this in the week in training. He didn't just dream it up on Friday night.
I'd also say it was the right time to test it. It's those below us that we need to beat now as play offs have long gone. Burton is much more crucial.
Was pretty disappointed with Tennai allowing Clark-Harris to get away from him for their second. We need better full backs 100%.
I wish the highlights showed the two headed chances. I think both were from Dobson free kicks (or one might have been from our only corner?). Terrel Thomas at least worked their keeper, whereas Jones headed over when he should have buried his - you could see from his reaction that he knew that.
These are the moments that games hinge on, and we’re always on the wrong side of them.
It’s ironic that in (probably) his last two games for us that Dobbo shows he should have been taking our free kicks and corners for the last couple of years. The three new midfielders were a ray of light, and oddly, Ness and Terrel Thomas performed way above expectations. If Ness can continue his form from before his injury last season it’ll be a massive bonus, because I’m very worried about Jones’s form over the last few matches. He’s cost us quite a few goals and has lost that aura of solidity that he used to have.
Really have to pray that Gillesphey turns out to be a starter, but who you’d play alongside him is, for me, a bit of a toss up at the moment. He’s left sided, same as Thomas, and I suspect Jones will get the nod over Ness, because of his experience. But he’s going to have to improve or he’ll lose his place eventually.
Peterborough have won four away games on the bounce, but we shaded that second half and could have nicked at least a point with better finishing.
I just hope MA has learned lessons yesterday and starts the eleven that performed so well in the second half, (although with Gillesphey in place of Thomas or Ness?) and sticks to that formation as well.
If Appleton says our second half showing would’ve beaten most League One sides (it wouldn’t btw, Peterborough would’ve found a way to win that, just as Oxford did) then that’s all right then isn’t it?
Who needs league points when Appleton thinks everything is OK as it is? Gaining points is so passé when the main aim is to get the band back together eh Michael?
For all those moaning about the fact that we only let in goals 80 minutes onwards, you’ll be pleased to know I just looked up the time of Peterborough’s 2nd goal, and it was in the 75th minute, little steps, but onwards and upwards!
Errr, conceding earlier is better??? Sorry but....
Appleton is now in the position of trying different formations to try and win games, he's once again hampered by injuries, injuries that in the main are caused by having to play players who are carrying knocks, playing on those knocks and eventually being declared unfit to start. I do think the board has realised this but I can only think that after they sacked Holden the penny actually dropped whereas a lot of supporters knew that squad was nowhere near able to compete. They now need to deal within the January transfer window to get one player at least to replace Chuks and Miles, lets hope they get him and he doesn't get injured, hence the reason for two. Until we get that forward/s this won't change.
If Appleton says our second half showing would’ve beaten most League One sides (it wouldn’t btw, Peterborough would’ve found a way to win that, just as Oxford did) then that’s all right then isn’t it?
Who needs league points when Appleton thinks everything is OK as it is? Gaining points is so passé when the main aim is to get the band back together eh Michael?
It also ignores that the first half performance was bad enough to lose to most League One sides. Actually, it was inept enough to lose to most Sunday league sides.
I think the second half of matches disproportionately impacts our perception of our performance in a game. I suppose it’s only natural, a kind of recency bias. But if we’re atrocious in the first half and decent in the second (let’s not go mad, we weren’t amazing) then we need to judge the performance in entirety as poor.
I thought we played a decent Peterborough side but I do feel we should be winning these games especially at home Well we will soon see if Appleton is up for the job his got no excuses now with the new signings we should start seeing a change in our style of play & results It won't come overnight but after about 3 games we will know let's hope he proves me & a good few others wrong & gives a good run in for the back end of the season & gives us all something to believe in again
That second half (after an appalling dull as fuck first half) gives me hope so this 1-2 loss with a decent second half means I feel a lot more optimistic than that shit show 2-1 win against Cheltenham when some were saying so what we won when the bigger picture is we looked shit and it didn’t look good going froward from there and so it proved so . Todays second half shows to me going forward from here I expect results to improve . This is why we don’t pull ourselves off after a wanky awful win but you can have a little fumble and get a semi on for a loss . its not rocket science
For all those moaning about the fact that we only let in goals 80 minutes onwards, you’ll be pleased to know I just looked up the time of Peterborough’s 2nd goal, and it was in the 75th minute, little steps, but onwards and upwards!
Errr, conceding earlier is better??? Sorry but....
Tyreece has been terrible for a while now, desperately needing time out of the spotlight. Indeed I've felt sorry for him at times.
It does beg the question why we left ourselves so thin in wide areas in the summer, moving DJ on with the hapless Kirk the only other option.
I think Tyreece is a lot better off the bench, running against tired legs. Either way though, he’s another kid that we’re relying on too much because the squad is both poor and unbalanced.
Some have said TC isn't trying but I watched him yesterday and it was not lack of trying but he is lacking confidence, other teams have worked out he can be bullied and that's what happened to him yesterday. Kanu benefitted from his cut short spell at Southend where he received plaudits for his performances and TC could do with dropping down a division or two and rebuild his confidence, either permanently or on loan. The problem is our lack of wide players means we will keep him around until ultimately we just release him to become another Deji.
The ideal set up would be playing wing backs but we still need to change personnel. I think Asiimwe needs games now as he is a proper wing back and will be a big asset next season IMO. Then I think we need another. Already the midfield with Dobbo, Coventry, Bakinson and L Watson to pick from looks better and it is clear May needs a bit of help and the biggest mistake Appleton made was putting the Campbells up with him. This season, we can't drop CBT as he is one of our best players and one of our few goal threats so I think we have to go unbalanced and have a wing back and a full back and we can tidy that up next season. Our front three for next Saturday should be CBT, May and Kanu.
The ideal set up would be playing wing backs but we still need to change personnel. I think Asiimwe needs games now as he is a proper wing back and will be a big asset next season IMO. Then I think we need another. Already the midfield with Dobbo, Coventry, Bakinson and L Watson to pick from looks better and it is clear May needs a bit of help and the biggest mistake Appleton made was putting the Campbells up with him. This season, we can't drop CBT as he is one of our best players and one of our few goal threats so I think we have to go unbalanced and have a wing back and a full back and we can tidy that up next season. Our front three for next Saturday should be CBT, May and Kanu.
Hopefully the front three debacle is over. Got to be a two in front of a five and three?
The ideal set up would be playing wing backs but we still need to change personnel. I think Asiimwe needs games now as he is a proper wing back and will be a big asset next season IMO. Then I think we need another. Already the midfield with Dobbo, Coventry, Bakinson and L Watson to pick from looks better and it is clear May needs a bit of help and the biggest mistake Appleton made was putting the Campbells up with him. This season, we can't drop CBT as he is one of our best players and one of our few goal threats so I think we have to go unbalanced and have a wing back and a full back and we can tidy that up next season. Our front three for next Saturday should be CBT, May and Kanu.
You think CBT really was injured in Friday’s training?
Comments
He had the team trialing a new system for 2 whole days before the match and after 45 mins abandoned it. As I've said many a time.....coaching badges are not worth a crap. Total waste of time.
He now thinks that playing 2 up front together improved us. No shit sherlock.
That the 2nd 45 performance would have beaten 90% of teams in our division. Problem is Mr Apple-pips a football match is over 90 mins and by the time the 2nd 45 begins we are usually losing. Try getting a team to play for 90 mins you tosser.
If I was a betting man I'd say he won't be here by the end of the season. Might not be here to see the Ides of March.
https://www.theposh.com/news/ferguson-happy-another-away-win
Kanu made a big difference,with Alfie by his side they gave the boro defenders plenty to think about,and probably should have won the game.Bakinson ,very steady,Coventry looks a class apart,on this display,surely a championship player.Should the goals have been prevented,well as much as all goals could be stopped,yes.The first a decent move in our box,second,their no 10,did what CBT does to teams,continually running at them,and often finally getting the reward.
Hope Dobbo stays,I can see a formidable midfield with him,Bakinson and Coventry.CBT would be missed,but if Kanu can develop as quickly as what he seems to be doing,maybe we have a ready made replacement,in the goals and assists.stakes.
All in all,a bit disappointed to lose this,but the signs are there ,and improvement in results will be coming soon.
Appleton stood there like a garden gnome who'd lost his fishing rod.
Worst atmosphere I've known at the Valley for a long while and the silence spoke of apathy and resignation in that first half.
Second half a world of difference. We had arguably the best team in the league on the ropes and silenced their fanbase.
Credit must go to Appleton for firing a half time rocket up them. Perhaps he does his ranting behind closed doors and doesn't feel the need to appease fans and 'show passion' by screaming and arm waving pitchside.
All 3 new players looked good additions on relative early showing. A few more in of that calibre and I expect us to go on a run of wins.
The direct, attacking football warranted the roars of support and appreciation from the covered End and elsewhere.
Could have won it but didn't and they scored an inevitable winner as their overall class warranted but I didn't leave feeling doom and gloom as saw enough in that second half to warrant optimism for the rest of the season (relative to what we can realistically achieve in that time).
MA must have seen it, but decided to do nothing until HT....why?
2nd half much better, Kanu I thought was excellent when he came on and gave Posh defenders something to think about!
I like the look of Barkinson and Coventry has that Cullen look about him. Even Fiorini had an OK cameo. This won't go down well with many but I'd drop Dobbo, if he's still here, give the armband to May or Coventry, and play the 3 aforementioned new players in midfield and try to get CBT to sign.
The one thing we deffo need is a 'hold up' striker with more experience than Kanu and use Daniel as a sub as defensive legs get tired!
As for MA, I was calling for his head few weeks ago, now I'm thinking let's see what happens in the rest of the window, can he get HIS players playing and winning? If not, then on ya bike son!
Who replaces him...not a clue, but I'm not a Pearson fan either to be honest!
Let's hope at least 2 more players come in through the door early this week.
Finally with Hector now out, Gillesphey, Jones and a.n. other must start, I'm still not convinced by Ness!
He absolutely has the right to as head coach to trial new formations and he'd be criticised if he didn't try a new approach after the run we've been on.
Don't you think they practiced this in the week in training. He didn't just dream it up on Friday night.
I'd also say it was the right time to test it. It's those below us that we need to beat now as play offs have long gone. Burton is much more crucial.
The three new midfielders were a ray of light, and oddly, Ness and Terrel Thomas performed way above expectations.
If Ness can continue his form from before his injury last season it’ll be a massive bonus, because I’m very worried about Jones’s form over the last few matches. He’s cost us quite a few goals and has lost that aura of solidity that he used to have.
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-head-coach-michael-appleton-were-not-looking-over-our-shoulders-at-the-drop-zone/
I think the second half of matches disproportionately impacts our perception of our performance in a game. I suppose it’s only natural, a kind of recency bias. But if we’re atrocious in the first half and decent in the second (let’s not go mad, we weren’t amazing) then we need to judge the performance in entirety as poor.
Well we will soon see if Appleton is up for the job his got no excuses now with the new signings we should start seeing a change in our style of play & results
It won't come overnight but after about 3 games we will know let's hope he proves me & a good few others wrong & gives a good run in for the back end of the season & gives us all something to believe in again
so this 1-2 loss with a decent second half means I feel a lot more optimistic than that shit show 2-1 win against Cheltenham when some were saying so what we won when the bigger picture is we looked shit and it didn’t look good going froward from there and so it proved so .
Todays second half shows to me going forward from here I expect results to improve .
This is why we don’t pull ourselves off after a wanky awful win but you can have a little fumble and get a semi on for a loss .
its not rocket science
Other than that, yep, it's all good